Portable sitz bathtub



y 2, 1964 O.IM. STROUSE 3,132,349

PORTABLE SITZ BATHTUB Filed April 5, 1963 FMS INVENTOR. Orlando IX Slim/5e.

United States Patent 3,132,349 PORTABLE SITZ BATHTUB Orlando M. Strouse, 4007 52d St., Des Moines 10, Iowa Filed Apr. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 270,924 Claims. (Cl. 4-6) This invention relates to plumbing fixtures, and, more particularly, to that plumbing fixture found in the bathroom of nearly every home and known as a bathtub.

A sitz bathtub is defined as a tub in which one bathes in a sitting posture, a bath used specially in postoperative cases in which the hips and thighs of the patient are immersed in hot water for the therapeutic effect of the moist heat in the perineal and anal regions.

Unfortunately, most sitz bathtubs are anything but portable; and this, of course, is a big disadvantage when the person using one does not have help to assist him to a tub which is fixed in one place and cannot be moved.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a portable sitz bathtub of the character described that can readily be moved around by anyone, regardless of age or strength.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable sitz bathtub that takes up a minimum of space in a room, house trailer, or on a yacht or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable sitz bathtub that can be successfully used by people who normally have a hard time getting into and leaving the regular type of bathtub, by reason of the belt-supported seat.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable sitz bathtub having handrails on three of its sides in order to facilitate the movement of the same from place to place, and to facilitate getting into and out of the tub.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a portable sitz bathtub in which a person cannot possibly accidentally drown, if he should have a heart attack or otherwise become incapacitated while bathing in the same.

Other and further objects and advantages of this portable bathtub will be apparent from the hereinafter description, and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a right side view of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated by the character a cylindrical tub which may be of any suitable material such as porcelain, the tub having a flat bottom 11, on the underside of which is mounted four swivel casters .12 that support this sitz bathtub on a floor or the like. The aforesaid flat bottom 11 is also provided with an opening leading into the drain fitting 13, to which is connected a vertical overflow pipe 14 that has its upper end 15 connected to the side of the aforesaid tub 10. The pipe is provided with a suitably located shut-off valve outside the tub 10, thereby permitting any overflow of water to the drain fitting 13. Handles 16 that have the configuration of an inverted letter U are secured to the upper sides and back of this bathtub in equal-spaced relation to each other, as best shown in FIGURE 2 of the appended drawing, the handles at the sides extend vertically and are especially useful in getting into and out of the tub, while the handle "ice at the back is inclined and is especially useful in moving the tub about. Attention is directed to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 where it is also seen that the cylindrical tub 10 is provided with a plastic seat 17 that has a centrally located elliptical opening 18 and three recesses 19, each one of which is formed in the shape of a circular segment. The centrally located opening 18 is provided to permit the liquid in the tub to contact and circulate past certain portions of the body. This opening is shaped as shown to give the necessary exposure to the liquid and to be comfortable. One recess is centrally located inside of each side handle and one directly in front of the seat. A belt 20 supports the aforesaid seat 17 by means of an L-shaped hook 21 that is secured to each end of the belt, and which hooks over the upper edge 22 of the aforesaid tub 10. Belt 20 is elastic, extends across, beneath the seat 17, and is glued to the seat in the regions between elliptical opening 18 and the periphery of the seat. This makes a secure, permanent connection. Although belt 20 extends across opening 18, it does not materially interfere with contact between the body and the liquid. It may be said at this time that the plastic seat 17 can, of course, be of any desired construction. One suggested form provides for flexible material having its edges encircle a hoop 23, which gives the seat the necessary shape and holds the same in form.

The general construction of this useful and novel invention has now been set forth in detail. Water may be poured into the tub, or the tub can be stationary in a bathroom having hot and cold running water. Water inlet connections are not shown in the appended drawing since they do not'form a part of this invention. In use, one sits himself upon the seat. His weight will cause L-shaped hook 21 and plastic hoop 23 to bend sufficiently to permit the said hoop to slide past said book. The portions of the elastic belt 20, which is between each L-shaped hook and the glue will stretch and will ease his buttocks down into the water.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is tobe understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the shape, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, Within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A portable sitz bathtub comprising a cylindrical tub, having a flat bottom, to the underside of which is secured three or more casters, thereby providing a means of conveniently moving the said portable bathtub from place to place, and structure in the form of handles secured to the outside of the said tub, a seat, an elastic band, and a hook connecting each side of the seat to the upper edge of the tub whereby the seat is adapted to move vertically in the said tub by the Weight of the person taking a bath in the said tub, and a means of permitting the drainage of water from the said portable bathtub.

2. A portable sitz bathtub comprising a cylindrical porcelain tub having a fiat bottom, to the underside of which is secured three or more swivel casters supporting the said portable bathtub on any flat surface over which it can readily be moved by means of the said swivel casters, and a plurality of handles secured to the upper outside edge of the said cylindrical porcelain container, a plastic seat glued onto the top surface of an elastic belt extending centrally across the top of the said porcelain cylindrical tub, the said belt having each end connected to a hook that fits over the upper edge of the said porcelain cylindrical tub, which is provided with a drain opening in the bottom thereof, and a means of preventing an overflow of water entering the said portable bathtub.

3. A portable sitz bathtub comprising a cylindrical porcelain tub having a flat bottom, to the underside of which is secured three or more swivel casters supporting the said portable bathtub on any flat surface over which it can readily be moved by means of the said swivel casters, and a plurality of handles secured to the upper outside edge of the said cylindrical porcelain container, a plastic seat, having a centrally located elliptical opening therein and a plurality of recesses in the outer edge thereof, the said plastic seat being glued onto the top surface of an elastic belt extending centrally across the top of the said porcelain cylindrical tub, the said belt having each end connected to a hook that fits over the upper edge of the said porcelain cylindrical tub, which is provided with a drain opening in the bottom thereof and means of preventing an overflow of water entering the said portable bathtub.

4. A portable sitz bathtub comprising a cylindrical porcelain tub having a flat bottom, to the underside of which is secured three or more swivel casters supporting the said portable bathtub on any flat surface over which it can readily be moved by means of the said swivel casters, and a plurality of handles secured to the upper outside edge of the said cylindrical porcelain container, a plastic seat, having a centrally located elliptical opening therein and a plurality of recesses in the outer edge thereof, the said plastic seat being glued onto the top surface of an elastic belt extending centrally across the top of the said porcelain cylindrical tub, the said belt having each end conneeted to an inverted L-shaped hook that fits over the upper edge of the said porcelain cylindrical tub, which is provided with a drain opening in the bottom thereof, and an overflow pipe on the outside of the said cylindrical porcelain container, the lower end of the said overflow pipe being connected to a drain fitting on the bottom of the said cylindrical porcelain container, and the upper end of the said overflow pipe adapted to receive any overflow of water through an opening in the upper side portion of the said cylindrical porcelain container, the said overflow pipe being fitted with a shut-off valve,

4 thereby preventing an overflow of water entering the said portable bathtub.

5. A portable sitz bathtub comprising a cylindrical porcelain tub having a flat bottom, to the underside of which is attached three or more swivel supporting casters, the said bottom having an opening permitting water to drain out of the said bathtub, the opening being encircled by an external fitting, to which is attached the lower end of a vertically disposed overflow pipe that extends up the outside of the said cylindrical porcelain container to encompass an opening in the upper side of the said container, the said overflow pipe having a suitably mounted shut-off valve, the said portable bathtub also having a plastic seat provided with a centrally located elliptical opening and a trio of spaced circular segment recesses, one of which is located in the front of the said plastic seat, which has its edge encompassing a hook in order to hold the shape of the said plastic seat, which has its underside glued to the upper side of an elastic web belt that extends across the top of the said bathtub, to which each end is secured by means of an inverted L-shaped hook extending over the upper edge of the said cylindrical porcelain container, which is fitted with three spaced and inverted U-shaped handles secured to the upper outside edge of the said cylindrical porcelain container, one handle being on each side thereof and one in the center of the back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,969 Jacobus May 17, 1887 2,806,226 Hoff Sept. 17, 1957 2,872,686 Osborn et a1 Feb. 10, 1959 2,977,604 Miller Q. Apr. 4, 1961 3,066,312 Reavis Dec. 4, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,354 Germany Feb. 21, 1930 

1. A PORTABLE SITZ BATHTUB COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL TUB, HAVING A FLAT BOTTOM, TO THE UNDERSIDE OF WHICH IS SECURED THREE OR MORE CASTERS, THEREBY PROVIDING A MEANS OF CONVENIENTLY MOVING THE SAID PORTABLE BATHTUB FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND STRUCTURE IN THE FORM OF HANDLES SECURED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE SAID TUB, A SEAT, AN ELASTIC BAND, AND A HOOK CONNECTING EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT TO THE UPPER EDGE OF THE TUB WHEREBY THE SEAT IS ADAPTED TO MOVE VERTICALLY IN THE SAID TUB BY THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON TAKING A BATH IN THE SAID TUB, AND A MEANS OF PERMITTING THE DRAINAGE OF WATER FROM THE SAID PORTABLE BATHTUB. 